Distance Selling Regulations: Compliance by Web Retailers

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to ensure that United Kingdom web retailers are complying with the legal requirements of the Distance Selling Regulations.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and local authority trading standards departments (TSDs) in Great Britain and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland have been working with business to ensure that they understand their obligations under the new law, both through TSD home authority relationships and through contact with relevant trade associations. In addition, there have been regular sweeps of websites to check the information made available to consumers. Where websites appear to be falling short, the company is informed and, if appropriate changes are not made, the OFT can take action against the company to ensure its future compliance.
	My department has published a Guide for Business to the Distance Selling Regulations, which is available from the DTI website at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/CACP/ca/dsdbulletin.htm.

Distance Selling Regulations: Compliance by Web Retailers

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the recent "mystery surf" by the Office of Fair Trading to investigate United Kingdom web retailers' level of compliance with consumer legislation, how many sites were found to be in breach of existing legislation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The mystery surf recently conducted by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and participating trading standards departments (TSDs) looked at 637 UK sites and found that a number did not appear to be giving information required under the Distance Selling Regulations. Twelve per cent did not appear to give details of either the physical address of the business, an e-mail address or a telephone number; 20 per cent did not give a full itemisation of costs; and 52 per cent did not appear to be giving easily accessible information of their returns, exchange or refund policy. OFT and TSDs are following up these cases by contacting the companies concerned. Where appropriate changes are not made, the OFT can take action against the company to ensure their future compliance.

Distance Selling Regulations: Compliance by Web Retailers

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under what circumstances it would be appropriate for the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading to seek an injunction against a United Kingdom web retailer for a breach of the Distance Selling Regulations.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is working with business to ensure that the requirements of the new Distance Selling Regulations are met. OFT has published information on its website and produced a new leaflet to help businesses understand their obligations and to ensure that consumers are aware of their rights. Where companies fail to amend their websites following contact by OFT, or breaches of the regulations are identified through consumer complaints, injunctive action can be taken. In determining whether or not a court injunction is required, the OFT, Trading Standards Departments in Great Britain and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland can have regard to any undertakings offered by the company.

Hazardous Waste Imports for Kiln Burning

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What studies they have made of the import of hazardous waste into the United Kingdom for the purpose of burning as kiln fuel.

Lord Whitty: None. Imports of hazardous waste for burning in cement and lime kilns are permitted under European Union legislation as they are regarded as imports for recovery. However, any imports require the prior consent of the UK enforcement authorities and the hazardous waste would have to meet the specification set out in the authorisations for each kiln that burns the waste, along with other operational conditions and emission limits.

Cemfuel

Lord Howell of Guildford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What studies they have made of the toxic emissions from the incinerators of Cemfuel and similiar waste substances; and what proportion of the content of Cemfuel, and similar substances, they estimate to be imported into the United Kingdom.

Lord Whitty: There have been a number of surveys of the impact on the local environment of the emissions from SLF burning. These have often been done either by the Environment Agency or by the Operator as a requirement set by the Agency. In particular, there have been extensive studies undertaken in and around Castle Cement's site at Clitheroe. This has included:
	Continuous air quality monitoring for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and PM10 at two locations in the Ribble Valley;
	Assessment of the concentrations of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, methane and non-methane hydrocarbons and particulates (total and PM10) in the plume from the chimney;
	The use of a laser-based device for assessing the dispersion of the plume from the chimney;
	An agency-initiated monitoring programme involving continuously monitoring ambient concentrations of sulphur dioxide and PM10 within a 5-kilometre radius of the works.
	Other sites have also carried out studies, including:
	Castle Cement, Ketton
	Assessment of dioxin levels in the soil within the vicinity of the works.
	Rugby Cement, Barrington
	Assesssment of dioxin levels in the soil within the vicinity of the works.
	Lafarge, Whitwell
	Monitoring for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the air around the site.
	Lafarge, Thrislington
	Monitoring of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and PM10 in the air around the site;
	Programme of soil sampling for assessing the amount of dioxins.
	Information on all of the above studies is available from the public registers or can be obtained directly from the operators.
	It is estimated that no more than 9 per cent of all Cemfuel and similar substances burnt in cement and lime kilns is imported.

SSSIs: Dependency on Grazing

Earl Peel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In view of the present foot and mouth epidemic, how many Sites of Special Scientific Interest depend on grazing animals to maintain their conservation integrity; and what percentage of such sites this represents in England.

Lord Whitty: English Nature estimate that around 396,000 hectares of land notified as being of special scientific interest is dependent upon grazing. This represents approximately 40 per cent of the total area of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in England.

Streetworks: Highway Authority Charging Powers

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will activate the powers under Section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to allow highway authorities to charge utilities whose works overrun.

Lord Whitty: Regulations activating the powers under Section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to allow highway authorities to charge utilities whose works overrun came into force on 1 April. We will be monitoring very closely the effect which the new powers have on the level of disruption to road users caused by street works. We have made clear that if it becomes apparent that these have not led to a sufficient reduction in disruption, then the Government are prepared to introduce further measures to address this problem.
	We are also issuing today two related publications. The first of these--Best Practice in Street Works and Highway Works--is designed to encourage utilities and highway authorities carrying out works in the street to make sure that these are completed speedily and to a high standard. Copies are being sent to every utility and highway authority. The other--a revision of the existing Code of Practice for the Co-ordination of Street Works and Works for Road Purposes and Related Matters--is intended, amongst other things, to ensure that works carried out by different bodies are co-ordinated effectively, so as to minimise disruption.

Local Authority Publicity

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to issue alterations to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity.

Lord Whitty: We have today issued to all county councils, district councils and London borough councils in England alterations to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, a draft of which was laid before the House on 15 February 2001. These alterations reflect the new council constitutions and the introduction of referendums and petitions under the Local Government Act 2000.
	As we announced on 15 February 2001 (Official Report, Column WA 59) we also intend in the future to review further the code, having regard to councils' experiences of operating their new constitutions over a reasonable period of time. This further review will also cover the code's application to those authorities--such as police authorities--which are not adopting new constitutions.
	A copy of the alterations have been placed in the Library of the House.

Traveline Public Transport Information Service

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the performance of the national bus information service Traveline (PTI 2000) is satisfactory.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The national public transport information service, traveline, was switched on region by region last year. Experience showed that in some regions improvements in telecommunications equipment and computerised journey planners were necessary, together with gathering additional local data. These improvements are now in hand, allowing the service to steadily improve.

Traveline Public Transport Information Service

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the database upon which the national bus information service Traveline depends will continue to be fully available in the future.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The national public transport information service, traveline, is operated by regional partnerships of transport operators and local authorities. Each region has developed its own approach to meeting the traveline requirement. Any database that a region has developed to support its service is the responsibility of the respective partners.

Traveline Public Transport Information Service

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions have taken place with the bus industry about the future performance and funding of the national bus information service Traveline; and whether any public funding will be made available to ensure that bus passengers have access to up-to-date information which is now available to rail passengers.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The national public transport information service, traveline, is led nationally by a steering group chaired by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT). One of my officials represents the department on that group. Ministers and officials have also had periodic meetings with CPT officials and others in connection with traveline, including issues of performance.
	The Government have made £10 million available to local authorities in 1998-2001 to enable them to play their part in getting essential building blocks for traveline in place.

Traveline Public Transport Information Service

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that reliable information is available to travellers wishing to make multi-modal journeys.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The national public transport information service, traveline, provides multi-modal journey information about all forms of public transport. Currently available by telephone (0870 6082608), the traveline partners have begun development of an internet-based service.
	Traveline is a step on the way to the more comprehensive, internet-based transport information service, Transport Direct, announced in the 10-year plan for transport, Transport 2010. The Transport Direct programme aims to provide the traveller with all the information he or she needs before and during a journey anywhere in the UK, and with the ability to buy the associated tickets.

Private Aerodromes: Airspace Safety

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will in the near future be reminding planning authorities of the obligations placed on private aerodrome operators by the Civil Aviation Authority for airspace safeguarding in CAP 168 and 428.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: We have no plans in this area beyond our proposed new direction and circular on the official safeguarding of aerodromes and navigation aids.

Private Aerodromes: Airspace Safety

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions will bring forward any new initiatives to promote improved co-operation by planning authorities with aerodrome operators so as to achieve satisfactory airspace safeguarding in the interests of air safety.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: My department issued for public consultation on 2 March, in conjunction with the National Assembly for Wales, drafts of a direction and a circular on the official safeguarding of aerodromes and navigation aids in England and Wales. Copies were placed in the Library. The Scottish Executive has begun a parallel consultation. The main proposal is that local planning authorities should be required to consult the officially safeguarded aerodromes or NATS instead of the Civil Aviation Authority. I believe that the individual aerodromes should be better placed than a single central organisation like the CAA to monitor the development of potentially significant proposals, and that the continuing involvement and local knowledge of aerodrome managements should make it easier to reconcile development proposals with the safe operation of the aerodromes.

Railway Deaths by Electrocution

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the number of people electrocuted on the United Kingdom railway system compares to the total number of people killed on the railways for the last 12-month period for which figures are available.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The information requested is shown in the table below. The period covered is the 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000.
	
		
			 Category Total fatalities Fatalities due to Electrocution 
			  
			 Passengers 47 0 
			 Railway Staff 5 0 
			 Other Members of the Public 13 0 
			 Adult Trespassers and Suicides 268 13 
			 Child Trespassers and Suicides 6 3 
			 Total 339 16 
		
	
	Further details can be found in the Chief Inspector of Railways Annual Report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain during 1999-2000. Appendix 8 of the report gives a further breakdown of fatalities and injuries to trespassers due to electrocution. Copies are available in the House Library.

NHS Trusts: Digital Hearing Aid Contract Access

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which National Health Service Trusts, outside the 20 NHS Trusts participating in the Modernising NHS Hearing Aid Service project, have been informed that they meet the service criteria for accessing the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency contract for digital hearing aids; and whether they will explain the measures they are taking to provide funding for equipment and staff training to enable more trusts to meet the service criteria.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Pending the outcome of the "modernising NHS hearing aid services" project, all National Health Service trusts, with the appropriate staff, training, equipment and experience have been informed through a newsletter, that they are eligible to apply for access to the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) contract for digital hearing aids.
	The following list gives the names of the NHS trusts which have been informed that they have been given access to the PASA contract for digital hearing aids and training by the project team as at 29 March 2001.
	Bolton Hospital NHS Trust
	Brighton Health Care NHS Trust
	Doncaster Royal Infirmary & Montagu Hospital NHS Trust
	Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust
	Guy's & St. Thomas' Hospital Trust
	Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
	Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust
	Norfolk & Norwich Health Care NHS Trust
	North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust
	Royal Devon & Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust
	South Warwickshire General Hospitals NHS Trust
	Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust
	Southend Hospital NHS Trust
	St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust (London)
	Swindon & Marlborough NHS Trust
	University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
	West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust

Medical Devices Agency: Key Targets

Lord Paul: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the key targets for 2001-02 for the Medical Devices Agency.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have agreed the agency's key targets for 2001-02 and copies have been placed in the Library.

Drug-related Deaths: Response to Report

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the Government's response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report on Reducing Drug Related Deaths.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government have published their response to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs report and copies have been placed in the Library. This is the first stage of our response--we are also preparing an action plan to reduce drug misuse related deaths which we intend to publish this summer. This action plan will set targets for agencies and government departments.

Haemophilia: Proposed National Blood Distribution Framework

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the working groups and committees appointed to consider improvements to the national framework managing the use and distribution of blood products to people with haemophilia; and what are their terms of reference and current membership; and
	Whether Health Ministers will meet representatives of the Haemophilia Society to discuss how society members might play a role in the working groups and committees appointed to consider improvements to the national framework managing the use and distribution of blood products to people with haemophilia.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There are currently no plans for a national service framework for managing the use and distribution of blood products to people with haemophilia; and a working group or committee has not been appointed to consider this issue.
	The Haemophilia Alliance has issued a consultation document, National Service Specification for Haemophilia and Related Conditions, and has recommended that it is used towards the development of a formal service framework. The Government are giving careful consideration to this consultation document and will respond to the Haemophilia Alliance in the near future.

World Trade Organisation: Sustainability Policy

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to ensure that multilateral environmental agreements are fully reflected in the policies of the World Trade Organisation and all other international trade rules; and to ensure that the Uruguay trade round agreements and any future trade rounds and liberalisation measures are entirely consistent with a sustainable global environment.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Her Majesty's Government's objective is to ensure that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is seen to contribute to sustainable development, as enshrined in the founding agreement of the WTO. We do this through pressing for sustainable market access liberalisation and ensuring coherence between WTO and global environmental governance. Where necessary we seek to clarify WTO rules to support legitimate environmental regulation while ruling out unwarranted protectionism.
	We and our European partners are committed to launching a new trade round. A new round will strengthen the global economy and help raise living standards in developing countries. A key part of the EU's and UK's approach is that a new round must support global sustainable development. This means it must have an environmental dimension.
	We want to maximise the 'win-win' potential of trade liberalisation where there are positive environmental impacts. Where there are negative impacts, we are pressing to eliminate perverse subsidies which are both trade-distorting and environmentally damaging. Agriculture and fisheries are two key areas where we will pursue this approach.
	We also want to see WTO rules clarified in two key areas so that legitimate environmental policy is not undermined. The interface between WTO rules and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) must be addressed to prevent friction between two major bodies of international law. The legitimacy of voluntary environmental labelling schemes must be recognised. We take seriously the concerns of developing countries about "eco-protectionism" and we are working actively with our EU colleagues to ensure that these concerns are addressed.
	We take part, through the EU, in the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment established by the Uruguay round and use this committee to engage in active dialogue with developing countries and others on clarifying the relationship between MEAs and WTO rules. We also take every opportunity to use appropriate bilateral meetings to press arguments in favour of ensuring that MEAs are fully reflected in the policies of the WTO.

Hydro-electric Power

Lord Campbell of Croy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they classify hydro-electric generation of electricity as a renewable source of energy.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Hydro is a renewable source of energy as defined in the Utilities Act 2000.

Third Generation Wireless Telegraphy Act Licences

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in the light of the current difficulties being experienced by the telecommunications sector, there is a case for extending the period for which 3G (Third Generation) licences were auctioned beyond the original 20 years and for a relaxation of the conditions regulating network roll-out.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The conditions for the 3G Wireless Telegraphy Act licences were set out clearly in the Information Memorandum for the 3G auction. This will have influenced companies decisions on whether to participate in the auction and if so how much to bid. The Government see no case at present for changing these conditions after the auction in response to short-term market conditions.

Third Generation Wireless Telegraphy Act Licences

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the Treasury's original budgetary projections of the revenue to be derived from the auction of 3G (Third Generation) licences.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Budget 2000 fiscal projections assumed receipts from the spectrum auction of £3,000 million in 2000-01. These figures were set out in the Government's return to the European Commission for the Excessive Deficit Procedure which was deposited in the Library on 31 August 2000.

Public Expenditure in England, Scotland and Wales

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish a table giving the latest available figures for annual expenditure per capita under the main departmental headings for (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Information on identifiable total managed expenditure per head by programme for England, Scotland and Wales is contained in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, which is being presented to Parliament today (Cm 5101).

Heathrow: Stop and Search Statistics

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total number of people stopped and searched by HM Customs and Excise annually at Heathrow airport; and
	What percentage of black, Asian, white, Chinese and Japanese people have been stopped and searched by HM Customs and Excise at Heathrow airport in the last year for which figures are available; and what quantity, and percentage of (a) illegal drugs and (b) other illegal goods were seized from persons in each of these groups.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: HM Customs and Excise does not maintain records of persons searched at airports or ports, but does so by operational region. Information on the total numbers stopped, including all of the main London airports, is set out in Customs and Excise's Annual Report for 1999-2000, a copy of which is in the Library.

Customs and Excise: Equality and Diversity Training

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What training is given to Customs and Excise Officers in relation to race, religious and gender issues.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: HM Customs and Excise is strongly committed to the avoidance of discrimination in all that it does, to valuing diversity and ensuring equality of opportunity. In support of the culture we are working towards, we have run an awareness campaign to emphasise the importance of treating people with dignity and respect.
	Customs and Excise provides a range of training on equality and diversity issues. The programme includes training specifically for staff who deal with the trading and travelling public, covering a wide range of diversity issues including those of race, religion and gender.
	Customs and Excise also provides training for all staff designed to raise awareness of the department's equal opportunities and diversity policies covering racial discrimination, sexual harassment, disability and bullying.
	A booklet is available giving information on the major world religions. This helps to give an understanding of the basic beliefs and helps to recognise some of the things which people from different faiths take for granted, and which form part of their culture. This is to help people appreciate and respond to the needs of people from minority ethnic communities. This information is published on the department's intranet site and is widely available to all staff.
	Diversity awareness training for all senior managers has been given, with ongoing support provided through an intranet site which includes a guide to practical diversity.

European Convention on Cybercrime: Provision against Racism

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that the proposed European Convention on Cybercrime, being promoted by the Council of Europe, contains specific provisions on racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic hate messages.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Drafting of the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention was completed in December 2000.
	The Government view the dissemination of racist, xenophobic or anti-Semitic hate messages very seriously. However, the inclusion of a provision on cyber-racism was not raised until the draft convention was almost completed and it was considered that the detailed consideration required could hamper difficult negotiations on articles that had been in the draft convention for a long time. Furthermore, it appears that the existing United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination already requires State Parties, which include all the participants in the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention negotiations, to criminalise all such conduct irrespective of the medium through which it is committed. The Government are therefore unconvinced that there is a specific need for such an article in the Cybercrime Convention.

Cruelty to Animals: Prosecutions

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prosecutions have been recorded in respect of offences concerning cruelty to animals in each of the last three years.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Information taken from the Home Office's Court Proceedings Database showing the number of persons prosecuted for offences concerning cruelty to animals in England and Wales during the period 1997-1999 is given in the table.
	Data for Scotland taken from the court proceedings database maintained by the Scottish Executive Justice Department are also given in the table.
	Data for 1997 for Northern Ireland as provided by the Northern Ireland Office are also included in the table. Data for both 1998 and 1999 are not yet available.
	
		Number of persons proceeded against in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for offences relating to animal cruelty, 1997-1999 
		
			  1997 1998 1999 
			  Persons Prosecuted Persons Prosecuted Persons Prosecuted 
			 England and Wales  
			 Protection of Animals Act,  1911 (as amended) 1,051 1,104 1,046 
			 Wildlife and Countryside  Act, 1981 Sec 8 8 2 1 
			 Protection of Animals Act,  1934 6 4 -- 
			 Docking and Necking of  Horses Act, 1949 -- -- 2 
			 Pet Animals Act, 1951 4 7 10 
			 Protection of Animals  (Amendment) Act, 1954 34 22 25 
			 Animal Health Act, 1981,  Secs 40-42, 46 and 49 and  Orders made under Secs 8,  9, 37, 38, 39 and 43 65 76 39 
			 Slaughterhouses Act, 1974 -- 2 4 
			 Abandonment of Animals  Act, 1960, Sec 1 26 36 17 
			 Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act,  1962 1 1 -- 
			 Animal Boarding  Establishments Act, 1963 2 5 8 
			 Riding Establishments Acts,  1964 and 1970 1 1 -- 
			 Slaughter of Poultry Act,  1967 6 18 8 
			 Agriculture (Miscellaneous  Provisions) Act, 1968,  Secs 1, 2 and 6 9 5 15 
			 Protection of Badgers Act,  1992 (except Sec 13) 44 18 30 
			 Wildlife and Countryside  Act, 1981, Sec 9 5 -- 3 
			 Wildlife and Countryside  Act, 1981, Sec 11 2 3 4 
			 Wild Mammals (Protection)  Act 1996 7 8 -- 
			  
			 Breeding of Dogs Acts 1973  and 1991 5 5 5 
			 Diseases of Animals Act 89 85 58 
			 Wild Birds Protection Acts 84 68 157 
			  
			 Total England and Wales 1,449 1,470 1,432 
			 Scotland 
			 Cruelty to animals including  killing and maiming cattle  (excluding dogs) 107 85 62 
			 Cruelty to dogs 9 3 -- 
			  
			 Total Scotland 116 88 62 
			 Northern Ireland 
			 Dog (NI) Order 1983 1 -- -- 
			 Welfare of Animals Act (NI)  1972 15 -- -- 
			 Roads (NI) Order 1993 2 -- -- 
			  
			 Total Northern Ireland 18 -- -- 
			  
			 Overall total for United  Kingdom 1,583 1,558 1,494

Airwave Police Radio Communications Systems

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they can give assurances concerning any potential health risks arising from the new radio communication system being introduced into the police service.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Health and safety considerations have been of paramount importance in the development of Airwave, the new radio communications system for the police.
	Airwave will use the Terrestrial Trunk Radio System (TETRA). This is an advanced digital technology system which will improve police effectiveness and have a positive impact on the safety of police officers' operational environment. It will do this through such features as emergency buttons on police radio handsets, more secure operation through encryption, better quality sound and by facilitating communications across police boundaries.
	Airwave has been designed to enable the use of terminals which comply with guidelines issued by the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) and the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) on exposure to electro-magnetic fields.
	An issue has arisen in connection with the report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (the Stewart Committee), commissioned by the Minister of Public Health and published in May 2000. The report is concerned with the possible health effects of mobile phones, their base stations and transmitters. In his foreword to the report, Sir William Stewart states that:
	"the balance of evidence does not suggest that mobile phone technologies put the health of the general population of the United Kingdom at risk. There is some preliminary evidence that outputs from mobile phone technologies may cause, in some cases, subtle biological effects, although, importantly, these do not necessarily mean that health is affected".
	The report proposes that a "precautionary approach" be adopted until more robust scientific information becomes available.
	At one point in its report, the Stewart Committee makes reference to research on the possible effects of radio frequency emissions at or near a modulation of 16Hz (cycles per second); TETRA terminals (but not base stations) operate at 17.6Hz. On this, the conclusion of the Stewart Committee (paragraph 5.59) is that:
	"although the weight of evidence suggests that radio frequency exposure (at around 16Hz modulation) at average levels too low to cause significant heating does increase the release of calcium from brain tissue, there are contradictory results. The suggestion that these effects occur significantly with fields that are amplitude modulated at extremely low frequencies is intriguing but difficult to interpret. Further, the finding is of no obvious relevance to mobile phone technology, where the amplitude modulation within the critical frequency band is very small. If such effects occur as a result of exposure to mobile phones, their implications for cell functions are unclear and no obvious health risk has been suggested. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, amplitude modulation around 16Hz should be avoided, if possible, in future developments in signal coding". (Calcium has a vital role in the function of neurones (nerve cells) and other cells). These conclusions are based on observations in animals and human cell tissue in the laboratory; the effect has not been observed in human beings.
	While no obvious health risk has been suggested by the Stewart Report, it recommended a precautionary approach and we recognise that there are concerns. Accordingly we have approached the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and the National Radiological Protection Board and they have each agreed to conduct a review of the relevant science. Also the focus of the recently announced Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme being initiated by the Government in response to the Stewart Report is on emerging technology and we anticipate that further research in areas that are directly relevant to TETRA will be supported.
	On the basis of current evidence on health and safety issues, there is no reason to delay the roll-out to police forces of the Airwave system. We will, however, keep these issues under close review, publishing the results of the research as it is concluded, or sooner if it suggests any risk, acting fully in accordance with those results.

Police Officers: IT Training

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What levels of basic training in computer literacy are given, as a matter of course, to serving officers and new recruits in police forces in the United Kingdom.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: This is a matter for individual forces to decide. At present there is no centrally determined requirement for all officers or new recruits to be trained in Information Technology (IT) skills. We will be considering this issue in developing proposals for implementation of the powers in the Criminal Justice and Police Bill to determine a core curriculum and mandatory qualifications for police officers.

Independent Police Complaints Commission

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the timetable for setting up the new independent Police Complaints Commission.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: New legislation is needed in order to set up the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time permits.
	However, planning work is continuing and we expect the Independent Police Complaints Commission to be operational approximately 12 months after the new legislation receives Royal Assent.

Countryside Access: Departmental Website as Information Source

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 19 March (H.L. Deb., col. 1156), whether it is appropriate for a Minister to respond to a request for factual information by referring the House to information contained on a government website.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Question I was asked was whether the Government intended to issue guidance about access to the countryside to those involved in the forthcoming local elections. I explained that detailed guidance already exists and that it covered matters such as countryside activities, visits to the countryside and how to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease.
	I gave the address of the website so that Members of your Lordships' House, and those who follow our proceedings, could see for yourselves what was available.
	The available guidance runs to many pages and I would not have been able to outline its content except by answering the Question at a length that would be inappropriate for an oral Question. In addition, as I indicated in my Answer, the guidance is regularly updated so anything more specific that I might have said as to the content of the guidance might rapidly have become out of date.

Voluntary Bodies Working with Victims and Offenders: Funding

Baroness Stern: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the planned increase in Home Office funding (a) next year and (b) over the next three years to voluntary organisations working with victims and to voluntary organisations working with offenders respectively, expressed both in absolute and percentage terms.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The planned increase in grant to voluntary organisations working with victims next year (2001-02) is £6,464,000 (35 per cent). There is no planned increase in subsequent years.
	There is no planned increase in grant to voluntary organisations working with offenders next year, or in subsequent years.

Freedom of Information Act 2000: Implementation

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is a reasonable prospect that they will bring into force the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, in respect of HM Civil Service, before the end of 2002.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Home Office is currently in consultation with the Information Commissioner concerning the timetable for implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Implementation will require a great deal of work on the part of the Office of the Information Commissioner, not least with regard to the approval of publication schemes for all public authorities. It would be inappropriate to make any definitive statement on the timing of implementation until these discussions are completed.
	However, I would like to give an assurance that the Government, as part of their commitment to open government, are determined to implement the Freedom of Information Act, both for Her Majesty's Civil Service and for the rest of the public sector, as expeditiously as possible.

Immigration and Nationality Enforcement Manual: Disclosure

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 19 March (WA 127), whether they will disclose the subject matter, but not the content, of those sections of the Operational Enforcement Manual of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate whose disclosure would prejudice the effective enforcement of immigration controls or other statutory provisions and where the public interest does not outweigh the harm likely to arise from disclosure.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Operational Enforcement Manual is presently being revised with a view to publication on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website (www.ind.homeoffice.uk) in due course.
	As part of this revision, consideration is being given as to whether the disclosure of certain sections would prejudice the effective enforcement of immigration controls or other statutory provisions and where the public interest does not outweigh the harm likely to arise from dislosure. Once it is decided which sections should not be disclosed, the same considerations will also apply in due course when considering whether the subject matter of those sections can be disclosed.

Standford Hill Prison: Board of Visitors

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they will take to resolve the situation of two members of the Board of Visitors at HM Prison Standford Hill who are still waiting to hear whether they are to be reappointed following the Triennial review of December 1999.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: I am aware of the continuing investigations into complaints against two members of the Board of Visitors at Standford Hill prison. In order to help to ensure that this is brought to a satisfactory conclusion, my right honourable friend the Minister for Prisons and Probation has asked Stephen Shaw to carry out an urgent investigation into all matters relating to the enquiries.

Prison Service: Intrusive Surveillance

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who will authorise the use of intrusive surveillance by Her Majesty's Prison Service under Part II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; who in the Prison Service may apply to use the power; and what is the purpose of intrusive surveillance in private prisons.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Secretary of State will authorise the use of intrusive surveillance carried out by Her Majesty's Prison Service under Part II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) on application by persons holding an office, rank or position in Her Majesty's Prison Service itself. In practice, the governor in charge of the relevant prison will make the case for such an application to be made. This case will be submitted to a senior civil servant with operational experience within Prison Service Headquarters who will be a Gold Commander (in the case of a hostage situation) or, otherwise, an Area Manager or the Head of Security, one of whom will formally make the application to the Home Office. This process will be laid down in the Security Manual followed by Her Majesty's Prison Service. Within the Home Office, applications will be scrutinised by a dedicated warrants unit, headed up by a senior civil servant, charged with providing advice to the Secretary of State. A full audit trail will be available to the Chief Surveillance Commissioner, who has a statutory responsibility to oversee the use of intrusive surveillance by Her Majesty's Prison Service.
	Intrusive surveillance may be used in private prisons, and will be regulated by Part II of RIPA. A senior civil servant with operational experience at Gold Commander, Area Manager or Head of Security level within Prison Service Headquarters will make an application to the Home Office in response to a case made by the director of the relevant prison. Authorisations will be given by the Secretary of State. Private prisons are contractually obliged to follow the procedures set out in the Prison Service Security Manual, which will set out how the application process will operate.

National Technical Assistance Centre

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for the development of the National Technical Assistance Centre.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced his intention to establish a Government Technical Assistance Centre, using £25 million of Capital Modernisation Funding, in written reply to the honourable Member for Coventry South, Mr. Cunningham, on 27 March 2000.
	The facility will now be known as the National Technical Assistance Centre (NTAC). This is to reflect clearly that it will provide technical assistance to law enforcement agencies nationwide. NATC will be a 24-hour centre operated by the Home Office on behalf of all the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies, to process lawfully intercepted communications and lawfully acquired material and make it intelligible to intelligence analysts. It will also support criminal investigations through the provision of evidential material derived from electronically protected data.
	Although for reasons of physical security, NTAC will be located within the headquarters of the Security Service, the Home Office will retain responsibility for the day-to-day management of NTAC beyond when it acquires an initial operating capability. Once the operation of NTAC is firmly established, that decision will be reviewed.
	NTAC will handle material obtained under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and be subject to review by the Interception of Communications Commissioner and the Intelligence Services Commissioner. It will also be subject to the safeguards contained in that Act.
	NTAC may also process material lawfully acquired under the Security Act 1989, the Intelligence Services Act 1994 and the Police Act 1997, for which it will be subject to review by the Intelligence Services Commissioner and the Surveillance Commissioners. It will also be subject to the scrutiny of the courts in respect of its handling of lawfully seized material and material lawfully acquired through the exercise of other statutory powers.
	The first head of NTAC will be Assistant Chief Constable Ian Humphreys, who has joined the Home Office on secondment from Kent County Constabulary, where he was Head of Criminal Investigation.

Ascitic Mice: Monoclonal Antibody Production Procedures Licensing

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What their policy is with regard to the licensing under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 of the production of monoclonal antibodies by the ascites method.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We announced in November 1997 our decision to phase out the licensing under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 of monoclonal antibody production using ascitic mice unless exceptional scientific justification exists. Under this policy, new licences are not issued unless clear evidence is presented that in vitro attempts at production have failed or that the use of animals is justified for specific diagnostic or therapeutic products. An outright ban is not possible without primary legislation, and it is recognised that monoclonal antibodies have particular value in the diagnosis of infectious diseases and in the treatment of some types of cancer.
	Only three new authorities have been issued for this work since this policy came fully into effect on 1 January 1999. I shall personally consider any future proposal to grant a licence using this procedure.

Race Relations Act 1976: Immigration Functions Authorisations

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will make authorisations under Section 19D of the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended) in respect of the carrying out of immigration functions.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We have today placed a copy of the authorisation made under Section 19D of the extended Race Relations Act in the Library, together with a brief explanatory note. Decisions on immigration and asylum applications will continue to be made on the merits of each individual case in accordance with immigration legislation and policies approved by Ministers. The authorisation mainly concerns the process by which such decisions are reached, and covers the following areas:
	examination of passengers by the Immigration Service at ports of entry;
	persons wishing to travel to the United Kingdom (to enable the operation of a flexible immigration control, including pre-clearance overseas);
	the setting of removal directions;
	asylum work streaming;
	permission to work in relation to the British Universities North America Club programme, the Japan Youth Exchange Scheme and certain British Dependent Territories citizens;
	translation of documents.
	Additional authorisations will be made by Ministers as and where necessary, including, where justified by intelligence or statistical evidence of a threat to the immigration control by those seeking to enter the United Kingdom by deception, specific authorisations to immigration officers at ports to examine passengers more closely in limited circumstances on the basis of ethnic or national origin. The Race Monitor to be appointed under Section 19E of the Race Relations Act (as amended) will report to Parliament via the Secretary of State on the likely effect of authorisations made by Ministers and on how they are operated in practice by officials.

Passport and Records Agency

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to change the name of the United Kingdom Passport Agency; and when they intend to publish the agency's framework document.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Following a Quinquennial Review in January 2001, an announcement was made that Ministers had agreed that the Passport Agency should retain its status as an executive agency for another five years and that it should continue to manage the Criminal Records Bureau. The agency will be changing its name to reflect its broader responsibilities and will now be called the Passport and Records Agency. The agency's framework document has been published today. Copies of the revised document will be placed in the Library.

Review of Crime Statistics: Recommendations

Lord Morris of Castle Morris: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress is being made in relation to the implementation of the recommendations contained within the Review of Crime Statistics.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Following the end of the consultation period in October 2000, the Review of Crime Statistics--which aims to enhance the accuracy and consistency of crime recording and to improve the quality of statistical data--has been subject of a review by a group of experts drawn from key stakeholder organisations and academia. The group's function was to consider the continued relevance and appropriateness of the recommendations in light of the consultation. The Experts' Group report indicated its continued support for the Review of Crime Statistics recommendations.
	A copy of the group's conclusions is being made available on the Home Office website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk), and has been placed in the Library.
	An Implementation Group with representation from the main stakeholders, including the Association of Chief Police Officers, has been established by the Home Office, to oversee the delivery of the review's 66 recommendations over a five-year period. Its key deliverables will include:
	More consistent recording of crimes by police forces throughout England and Wales
	The use of the Internet to collect and disseminate statistical data
	Collection of new information and better use of existing information to help explain crime trends
	Improving the machinery of government to help limit the demands of police officers.
	In July 2000, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) published its report On the Record, which also included eight recommendations relating to crime recording and associated issues. As the two pieces of work serve to support a consistent view on the subject, it has been agreed to take forward work on the HMIC recommendations within the implementation of the Review of Crime Statistics.

Criminal Records Bureau Disclosures: Fees

Lord Morris of Castle Morris: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When will they announce the fees to be charged for disclosures issued by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: We announced on 6 February that Standard and Enhanced Disclosures would be issued free of charge to volunteers, but that work was continuing on the general fee levels. We have now completed that task. We have made it clear that it remains our intention that the bureau will be self-financed by means of the charges that it makes, but we have been determined to keep fees as low as possible. We propose to charge a fee of £12 per disclosure. Regulations will be laid in due course.

Baton Round Equipment

Baroness Cohen of Pimlico: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to develop a new baton round for use in situations of serious public disorder.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My honourable friend the then Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Spellar) in another place announced on 10 June 1997, Official Report, col. 372W, that the Government had put in hand a programme to develop improved baton round equipment with reduced injury potential. A new baton round, designated the L21A1, is now available and has been issued to police forces in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and to the Army. The existing baton round will be withdrawn once all personnel have been trained in the use of the new round. It is planned to begin to deploy the new round on an operational basis from 1 June. Revised guidelines for the use of baton rounds in situations of public disorder which apply in the same terms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were issued to the police on 1 August 1999.
	Used, as it will be, with a new optical sight, the new baton round is more consistently accurate than the old, and the probability of it causing serious or life-threatening injury has been reduced. This has been verified by an independent medical assessment, a copy of which has been placed in the Library today by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence. Although there will be smaller risk of serious injury or death when the new baton round is used, that risk has not been eliminated, and the new round like the old will be used in situations of public disorder only in accordance with the existing strict guidelines. Details of use in Northern Ireland will, as now, be reported on every occasion and be copied to the Office of the police ombudsman for Northern Ireland and to the new Policing Board when it is established.
	In addition to its possible use in situations of public disorder, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) considers that the improved accuracy of the new baton round makes it suitable for use in dealing with people who are posing an immediate threat to life in circumstances in which use of a firearm would otherwise be necessary.
	The Government share the view of the ACPO and of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland that efforts should continue to find an acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternative to the plastic baton round. A research programme to that end has been embarked upon, and a document reporting the outcome of its first phase and setting out the next steps in the work programme has also been placed in the Library today by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Advocates Prosecuting Cases for the Government: Panel

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the arrangements for instructing advocates to prosecute cases on behalf of the Government.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Last year I set up a working group, chaired by David Nissen, CB, the Solicitor to the Department of Trade & Industry, to conduct a review of the arrangements for instructing advocates to prosecute cases on behalf of the Government. Following that review and consultation within government and the legal profession, new arrangements come into force today that will govern the instruction of advocates (whether barristers or solicitor-advocates) in private practice in prosecution cases for the following government departments and non-departmental public bodies: HM Customs & Excise; Departments of Social Security/Health; Inland Revenue; Department of Trade & Industry; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Intervention Board; Health & Safety Executive and the Environment Agency.
	I will be setting up a single panel of advocates for prosecution cases divided into three lists: A, B and C according to the level of experience of the advocate. Appointments will be for three years with the possibility of further renewals, I hope to annnounce the first recruitment exercise for the new single panel in the autumn. Further details about the application and selection process will be given closer to that time. There will be annual recruitment exercises and advertisements for applications to the new panel will be published. There will be equal opportunities monitoring of the application and selection process and particular care will be taken to encourage applications from women and members of the ethnic minorities. Appointment to the panels will be open to solicitor-advocates.
	From today, as a transitional arrangement until the new single panel is set up, my current lists of advocates for the departments named will be operated as a single list with instructing solicitors in those departments free to instruct advocates on the other lists. Those currently on a list will be expected to apply to join the new panel in due course.
	Also from today, the role of my clerk in nominating advocates from the lists for instructions/briefs, the re-allocation of returns and off-list nominations of counsel will cease. This was a considerable burden placed upon the chambers of each Attorney-General, which in these times can no longer be justified. From now on departments will be responsible for dealing directly with clerks concerning the delivery of instructions and the re-allocation of returns. Departments will be responsible for monitoring the fair spread of instructions across the lists and the equality of performance of advocates. There will be an Administrative Unit, based at HMCE, responsible for central monitoring that will report to me.
	I am confident that the new arrangements will serve prosecuting departments and NDPBs well. The system will be open and fair and will offer greater opportunities than in the past for prosecutors to do government work.

Special Advisers: Expression of Political Views

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the ban on special advisers in government expressing political views will be extended to e-mails and newsgroup postings.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: There are no plans to change the existing rules for special advisers, which are set out in their contracts.

e-commerce: Regulatory Framework

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they respond to recent criticisms from the British Chambers of Commerce that over-regulation is stifling the development and growth of e-commerce.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The UK Online Annual Report (http://www.e-envoy.gov.uk/) sets out the Government's commitment to developing an effective, light-touch regulatory framework for e-commerce, and to removing all remaining regulatory and legal barriers to electronic working on the UK. The report says that 81 per cent of British businesses are already on-line, on a par with the US. A recent report on the regulatory framework for e-commerce by the independent Better Regulation Task Force welcomed the Government's light-touch approach (http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/TaskForce/Index.htm). Another independent report, from Arthur Anderson and GrowthPlus, found that the UK has the best business environment in Europe (http://www.notjustpeanuts.com/fulrep.htm).

Civil Service Legislation

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to introduce legislation to place the Civil Service within a statutory framework.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government remain committed to the introduction of Civil Service legislation.

Non-departmental Public Bodies: Chairmen's Remuneration

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the current scales of remuneration for the chairmen of independent government organisations; and what are the criteria on which they are based.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: There are no scales of remuneration for the chairmen of non-departmental public bodies. The level of remuneration in each case is a matter for individual departments, taking into account the facts of each appointment. Departments need to be able to justify the level of pay and to ensure that it is comparable to that paid for similar responsibilities within the public sector. Rates paid to individual chairmen can be found in Public Bodies 2000, an annual publication of the Cabinet Office.

Northern Ireland: Racially Motivated Crime

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received in favour of extending British legislation on racially motivated crime to Northern Ireland.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Following a meeting with a representative of the Northern Ireland Commission for Ethnic Minorities, the Government received written representations by the leader of the Alliance Party last July. These proposed the extension of the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in respect of racially motivated offences to Northern Ireland. In response to a letter from the Secretary of State, the First and Deputy First Ministers asked about the possibility of extending the provisions of the Act.
	The Government propose to conduct a consultation exercise later this year to consider how best to legislate in Northern Ireland in respect of racially motivated crime. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Northern Ireland recently met representatives of the Alliance Party to discuss this, and a meeting with ministerial colleagues of the First and Deputy First Ministers has been arranged for the beginning of April.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to make it their policy to add new or further education, health and employment rights for Northern Ireland to those already provided for in the Human Rights Act 1998.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government invited the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to consult and advise on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights (on which the Human Rights Act is based) to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland. When the commission provides its advice (which it is expected to do later this year) the Government will give it due consideration.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current annual budget of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and what proportion is spent on staff.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: In 2000-01 the annual budget of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was £750,000, of which £330,500 (44 per cent) was spent on staffing costs. This does not include the (full-time) Chief Commissioner's remuneration of £57,475 or that of the other (part-time) Commissioners (£8,000 each), both of which are already a matter of public record.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish their submission to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on their proposed new Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government have not made a submission to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on this matter.
	On 24 March 1999, the then Secretary of State wrote to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission inviting the commission to consult and advise on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights (on which the Human Rights Act is based) to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland. A copy of that letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of the staff of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are (a) Protestant and (b) male.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission directly employs its own staff, so this is a matter for the commission itself. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make representations to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to commit itself to deal with third party violators of human rights where they are paramilitary organisations.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent body, and as such it is not for Her Majesty's Government to determine with whom it should deal.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has prepared its submission for more powers and resources; and whether they can outline details of its plan for widespread consultation on such proposals.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: In accordance with Section 69(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, we received a submission from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 28 February, containing recommendations on how the commission's effectiveness might be improved. We are currently considering its recommendations and will issue a formal response in due course. Should we propose to amend the legislation, our proposals will be subject to public consultation in the usual way.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has decided:
	(a) to campaign for a public judicial inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane;
	(b) to campaign for a public inquiry into the death of Rosemary Nelson; and
	(c) not to campaign for a public judicial inquiry into the death of Billy Wright in HM Prison The Maze.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will use its website to "name and shame" organisations and individuals taking part in paramilitary beatings.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will examine whether the human rights of Protestant farmers in Fermanagh who have left the border area have in any case been infringed.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will work with the appropriate authority in the Republic of Ireland to examine whether the Irish Government in the past provided support to the Provisional IRA.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to determine the subjects of its investigations. This issue, however, appears to fall outside the commission's statutory functions.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will require the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to investigate the level of support from Government agencies to returnees who were intimidated out of their residences and now wish to move back to areas such as the west side of the Foyle in Londonderry and to south Fermanagh.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission itself to decide which issues to investigate.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which representatives for the Unionist population the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has consulted in the past two years.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Irish Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they are making to the Government of the Irish Republic concerning its failure to implement the Belfast International treaty of 1998 by appointing a Human Rights Commission which is not representative of all sections of the population in the Republic.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Appointments to the Irish Human Rights Commission are a matter for the Irish Government.

Strategic Communications Unit and Government Communications and Information Service

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Strategic Communications Unit is actively involved in the promotion of "good news" stories on their behalf over weekends and what implications this has for the staff of the Government Communication and Information Service.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government are committed to provide news and information to the media and the public whenever necessary. The Strategic Communications Unit reflects this in its work, including the co-ordination of the activities of other departments. Any implications for the staff of the Government Communications and Information Service are a matter for employing departments.

Lightening Burdens on Business: European Commission Proposals

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support moves by European Union Commissioner Erkki Liikanen to explore new forms of self-regulation and co-regulation which, while maintaining the highest standards for health and safety and respect for the environment, seek to cut red-tape for business and industry in the European Union.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Yes. Her Majesty's Government welcomes and supports moves by the European Commission to explore alternatives to state regulation that deliver the appropriate degree of protection without undue burdens on business.

Millennium Dome: Sale

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer on 15 February regarding the sale of the Millennium Dome site, when they will publish the list of names of those persons who will serve on the advisory group which will assess the expressions of interest from parties who wish to submit bids following the failure of Legacy plc to meet the preferred bidder terms; and [HL
	What criteria they will use to determine whether new bids for the Millennium Dome site represent best value for money for taxpayers; and [HL
	When they will publish new bidding terms for the purchase of the Millennium Dome site. [HL
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We are currently conducting market testing prior to launching a new competition. Details of the timetable and process of that competition, including the new advisory group and criteria for assessing new bids, will be announced as soon as possible after the market testing is complete.

Millennium Dome: Sale

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which preferred bidder terms were not met by 14 February by Legacy plc.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I cannot go into the details as these were commercial negotiations between the Government and Legacy plc and the sale process is still ongoing.

Millennium Dome: Sale

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they have received from the Competititon Team formed by English Partnerships regarding the procedure which should be followed for the sale of the Millennium Dome site.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government have received comprehensive advice on this issue, and continue to do so.

Millennium Dome: Sale

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will admit Legacy plc as a bidder in the new process to sell the Millennium Dome site; and, if so, whether Legacy plc will be required to satisfy the same level of scrutiny as was required during the previous bidding process.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The new process will welcome proposals from any interested party, and the terms of the process will apply to all interested parties equally. Legacy plc are entitled to put forward proposals, as participation in the previous competition will not rule out involvement in the new process.

NMEC: £47 Million Grant

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the grant of £47 million made by the Millennium Commission to the New Millennium Experience Company in September 2000 had been drawn down by 19th March 2001.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has so far drawn down £10 million of the £47 million grant from the Millennium Commission. Thirty-seven million pounds remains.

Community Legal Service

Lord Grenfell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What directions they intend to issue regarding the budget and scope of the Community Legal Service.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: I have today issued three directions. The first is a budget direction for the CLS, as required under Section 5 of the Access to Justice Act 1999. The budget for 2001-02 includes the following provisions:
	the same budget as in 2000-01 for controlled work and new services, of £232 million;
	within that budget, £5 million for the new Partnership Innovation Budget, and an increase in other support grants (from £1.5 million to £5 million);
	as last year, a minimum of £20 million to be spent on services provided by not-for-profit bodies; and
	an increase in the budget for high-cost cases, from £1 million to £4.5 million.
	The second direction brings a number of tribunals into the scope of the CLS by allowing advocacy services to be funded. They are the VAT and Duties Tribunal; the General and Special Commissioners of Income Tax; and the Protection of Children Act Tribunal. In the first two, my decision is based on the need to provide representation where the interests of justice require it, because of the potential for the tribunals' powers to be interpreted as criminal penalties. In the third, my decision is based on the overwhelming importance to applicants of being allowed to challenge decisions to place them on the Protection of Children Act List and List 99.
	The third direction revises the circumstances in which cases that are normally excluded from scope can be funded. The main changes from my first direction, made in April 2000, are:
	excluded cases involving the liberty of the applicant will be funded, in line with the Government's obligations under the Human Rights Act;
	it will be easier to take action for professional negligence, even where the original service was provided in an area of law that is outside the CLS's normal scope;
	the treatment of cases against public authorities has been revised to make it easier to bring actions for judicial review or serious wrongdoing, and to match the direction to the way the Funding Code treats equivalent work that is in scope; and
	the treatment of mixed cases has been clarified, to restore the Government's original intention that only cases where the excluded element is minor or incidental to the main issue can be funded.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Extra Veterinary Staff

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps are being taken to "call up" retired veterinarians to assist in the foot and mouth crisis.

Baroness Hayman: The number of veterinary staff involved in the control and eradication of foot and mouth disease is being supplemented in a number of ways.
	(i) Retired members of the State Veterinary Service are working as temporary veterinary inspectors.
	(ii) Forty-eight veterinary staff have been seconded from the Ministry of Defence, the Veterinary Laboratory Agency and other government departments.
	(iii) Following contacts with veterinary practices and advertisements in the Veterinary Record, over 500 applications for temporary veterinary inspector posts have been received.
	(iv) Final year veterinary students are being signed up as casual animal health officers to work with established staff to assist with surveillance patrols.
	(v) Over 100 veterinary staff have arrived or are due to arrive from the official veterinary services in 11 overseas countries.
	There are now over 1,200 veterinarians involved in the fight against foot and mouth disease.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Cumbria

Lord Inglewood: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the names of the farms in Cumbria which have had an outbreak of foot and mouth disease; on which date the outbreak was confirmed; and what are the date or dates when the stock on them was slaughtered.

Baroness Hayman: By 2 April, there had been 372 confirmed cases of foot and mouth disease in Cumbria. The location and date of each outbreak is listed on the MAFF website (http://www.maff.gov.uk) and the information is available in the Libraries of the House.
	Because of the exceptionally high number of infected premises in Cumbria, it has in some cases been difficult to achieve the target of slaughter within 24 hours of disease being reported. With additional resources, including help from the armed forces, now deployed, the planning co-ordination and management of the process has been improved.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give higher priority to making possible voluntary slaughter schemes for livestock which have been at risk of contact with foot and mouth disease and cannot now be moved because the farms are in a restricted area, as took place in Norfolk and Suffolk following the outbreak of swine fever.[Hl
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Hayman: The Livestock Welfare Disposal Scheme was opened to applicants on 22 March 2001. As with the Pig Welfare Disposal Scheme in Norfolk and Suffolk last year, this voluntary slaughter scheme is intended to help resolve serious animal welfare difficulties arising from disease control measures which cannot be alleviated by movement under licence or in other ways. It is not a market support measure. The generous rates of payment announced will apply for two months and be reviewed before expiry of the period. The Government will meet the costs of transport, slaughter and disposal of animals under the scheme.

State Veterinary Service: Staffing

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the number of veterinary surgeons and the number of officials involved in agricultural support and advice employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1967, 1979 and at the end of 2000.

Baroness Hayman: The number of veterinary surgeons employed by the State Veterinary Service in 1967 could only be identified at disproportionate cost. The other information sought (full-time equivalents) is as follows:
	1979--597.5
	2001--286.0*
	The numbers of MAFF officials involved in agricultural advice and support could also only be identified at disproportionate cost.
	*The State Veterinary Service currently employs as a permanent staff 286 veterinary surgeons, of whom 220 are field veterinary officers.

Foot and Mouth Outbreak, South Africa

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When knowledge of the outbreak of the foot and mouth disease (Pan Asian Strain) in South Africa was brought to the notice of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Baroness Hayman: The Ministry was notified of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, by a fax from the South African Department of Agriculture Veterinary Service on 19 September 2000. The European Commission also advised member states at the Standing Veterinary Committee meeting on 19/20 September 2000.